Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-06
ARCTIC ISLANDS.
RECENT EXAMPLES or THE SUDDEN
FORMATION OF LAND.
Queer People who Dwell In the Far
North The Aleuts and the
Japanese.
rsan Prnnrieoo Chronlcle. /

10 strictly volcanic. The testimony OF
the rocks goes to prove that the process
of land-making here has been gradual
From the mainland OF Alaska 10 the
most western island Of the group vol
canoes e'of frequent occurrence; and
even at this late day the sudden APP
poarance of q new island or the renewed
activity of some long-extinct volcano
creates no extraordinary excitement.
On the island of Oonalaska, Mount
Makushin, a volcano of five thousand
feet in height, il still active, and on
clear DAYS the dark masses of smoke
hanging about its snsw-capped summit
can be easily seen from the village OF
nliliuk. About sixty miles west of this
island seems to be the centre OF great
est volcanic activity al this period. One
of the most recent examples of the sud
den formation Of land 10y volcanic ac-
ton took place here four years ago.
For yearly hundred years prior to
September, 1882, an isolated rock about
one third of mile in length by 300 feet
high had been observed and commented
upon by different navigators passing
through these waters. Captain Cook
took occasion to warn all mariners
whose vocation brought them in this
direction of the dangerous reefs
of Rocosloff. II we are to be-
lieve this veracious chronicler, Bogos-
loft at the time of his visit was vomiting
forth great masses OF smoke and flame.
Huge boulders were hurled into the
lurid air and fell into the seething, boil
ing sea. So vivid was the picture which
Cook drew of the horrors of Bogosloff
that for years the place was avoided and
then almost forgotten. With the
establishment OF the fur-trading stations
on the islands, and the consequent pass
ing of vessels, the old island once more
came into notice but in its degenerate
old age il had become commonplace.
All signs of volcanic activity had long
since disappeared, and it was simply
regarded as an ordinary "danger to
navigation" such as could be seen
along the shores of any Of the islands.
A bold master of one of the Alaska
Commercial Company's vessels even
went so far as to doubt the existence of
a reef which Cook reported as lying be-
tween the island and the mainland, and
rolling his quid one fine morning he
put his helm up and steered the Mary
Jane directly over the supposed reef,
and the most diligent search with SIX
to-fathom line failed to discover bottom.
This was n terrible blow to the dreadful
reputation of B0gosloh. and when. du
ring the same year, another adven-
turous spirit, emulating the ex-
ample of his predecessor, climbed
the steep sides Of the extinct
crater and looked down into the
dark, cave,nous depths, the hui
initiation of the terror was complete.
Even an extinct volcano has feelings
which should he respected, and these
assaults upon its dignity doubtless
aroused all the latent fury in the heart
Of the old veveran. The somnolent ex-
preston Of its weather-worn face did
not change but careful observer
would have noted many peculiar things
which took place on and around the
island during the summer of 1882. The
water in the vicinity began to seethe
and bubble and light smoke hung
over the surface. The island trembled,
and the myriads of birds which had an
nually made this their breeding-placc
left their nests in the crevices of the rocks
and with affrighted cries flew to some
more favorable spot. Some time during
the early part of September the natives
living on an adjacent island passed Boz
goslOff and noticed that all the birds
had deserted the rock, and on the 22d
Of that month, at Oonalaska, the day
suddenly became as dark rs night, the
earth shook, and the cattle grazing on
the hills huddled together in terrified
groups and beloved dismally. 4 fines
gray dust fell all day, and, notwith
standing the fact that every window and
door WAS closed, it entered the houses
and covered everything with its soft
grayness. A tidalwave rolled into the
harbor, and caused the lone little schoon-
or lying at anchor off the village to
pitch and toss as if she were at sea.
But what had been happening at Bo
gosloff? A few days subsequent to
these events it happened that Captain
Hague, of the steamer Dora, passed
Bogosloff and saw with amazemelt that
huge mountain had arisen from the
sea one half a mile northeast Of the eX-
tinct volcano, and connected with il by
low stretch or gravel beach. The
new formation was pouring forth dense
volumes of black smoke. SulphurOus
flames belched out Of crevices in the
sides of the crater, and the sea within
radius Of a mile of the island was dyed
crimson 10y the constantly falling show
ers of dust and ashes. Without stop
ping to investigate further. Captain
Hague steered his vessel off, aud the
next day arrived at OOnalaska. Here
comparison of notes resulted in attribu-
ting the occurrences which have been
above related to the upheaval OF what
is now known as New BogosloA.
While Oh the subject of volcanoes, it
may be of interest to relate an instance
of volcanic disturbance which occurred
in the vicinity of the Choumagn islands
during the last year. About August
18th the inhabitants of Unga, small
settlement ON an island just south of
the Alaska peninsula, after enjoying
unusually fine weather for week, were
startled by the appearance of huge
black cloud in the heavens to the north
west of them and by the sound of heavy
thunder. Shortly afterward the air be-
came oppressive and dense cloud of
fine dust swept over the island, cover
ing everything to depth of nearly an
inch. This shower of ashes continued
the greater portion of the day, and
when it cleared away the people at Unga
could see that Mount Pabloff, a long-ex-
tinct volcano, situated on the mainland
to the northwest of them, had again
fired up and was doing an active bust
ness at the old stand.
To one who has had the opportunity
of observing the peculiarities of the diff.
ferent classes of people generally styled
Indians in the various portions of the
United States and Alaska, the native
inhabitants of the Aleutian islands
must always be an absorbing and inte
resting study. From their earliest ira
ditions it appears that the settlement
of the Aleutian islands was made from
the westward. There are fragments Of
misty tales still extant among the Aleuts